Combined box or chest and table.



No. 700,355. 'fPatented May 20,1902,

F. L. MITCHELL. COMBINED BOX 0R CHEST AND TABLE.

(Application filed Aug. 15, 1901.) (No Model.)

2 Sheety-Sheet I.

No. 700,355. V Patented May 20, I902.

F. L. MITCHELL.

COMBINED BOX 0R CHEST AND TABLE.

(Apglication filed 15, 1901.

9 W/ K W I I T Z I 15' clvwevfiwa UNITED STATES ATENT" GFFICE;

coMemEoBox-oRj-cH s AND TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. ro 5 ;-,iaedmy 2 902.

' Application filed Augustl5, i991. SerialNO. 72 ,159.- (No man.)

i To all whom it-may concern: Y

Be it known that I, FRED L. MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in a OombinedBox or Chest and Table; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a combined box or chest and table for military andprivate camping purposes. I

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character whichis simple of construction, comparatively inexpensive of production, and adapted to be used as achest, in which a knockdown camp-stove, culinary utensils, or other articles may be packed away for storage or transportation and which may also be set up for use as a kitchen or dining table.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, andarrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully de scribed, and particularly pointed'out in the appended claims. 7

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of the device as set up for use as a receptacle.fon'culinary.utensils and the like and asa table. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cover. Fig. 3 is adetailsectional view through one of the corners of the body of the box with the parts arranged as in Fig. 1, showing the standard fitted in place. Fig. 4 is a similar view through one of the corners of the cover, showing the upper end of the'standard: Fig. 5 is a perfitted in the socket therein.

' spective viewofthe device'closed for use as a box or chest, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the same.

The present invention is especially designed for military use as a convenient receptacle for storing and transporting knockdown camp-stoves of the type shown, for instance, in another application filed by me of even date herewith, Serial No. 72,160, and as a table on which the camp cook may prepare the food for cooking or which may be used as a dining-table, at will; but it will of course be I understood that the device maybe utilized in *this' connection by private camping parties and "for 'a number. of other useful purposes.

drawings; the numeral 1 represents the body of the box," which may be made of any desired'form, size, and depth, and 2 the cover,

whichcloses'the'open top of the box. The

body 1 is strengthenedon .its under side by plates 5, oneof which is secured to the under side of the strip and the other between said 'strip and the under side of the bottom of the body 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Secured to the corners of the sides of the body are also bracket plates 6, which: are formed with openings 7, arranged to aline with the said openings 4:. The cover 2 is strengthened upon its outer face by strips 8, having at the are closed by wear-plates 10, inserted between the cover and the end strips. These plates reinforce the corners of the cover and socktSftlld sustain the .wear of the upper ends of the standards'11,"which would otherwise fall upon the body of the cover. The standardsll, four inlnumber, are pro- ;vidednear'th'eir lowerends with"collars or shoulders 12 and'are adaptedito' be passed upward through the openings4'and7to support the cover above the body. liin themanner shown in Fig. 1 to for'mthe table and allow the body of the box to "be used as a receptacle for food or culinaryutensils. In adapting the device for this use, the upper ends of the standards ll are passed upward through the corner-openings 4=andwhile the body 1 is turned upon one of its sides'and through the openings 7 in the bracket-plates 6 until the shoulders 12 bear againstthe under side of thebody 1, when said body is again turned back to a horizontal position to bring the lower ends of the standards to rest upon the ground. The body will then be supported above the surface of the ground upon the shoulders 12. The cover 2 is then placed in position upon the upper ends of the standards, which enter the sockets 9 and hold said Referring now more-particularly to the.

corners sockets 9, the inner ends of which cover against displacement. been done, the cover may be used as a tabletop and the body of the box as a receptacle for dishes, cooking utensils, or food, as desired. The brackets 6 render the attachment of the standards firm and secure against movement. When it is desired to use the device as a receptacle for a stove or other article, the standards are removed and placed in the body 1, and after the stove or other article has been placed therein the cover is applied. To fasten the cover, bolts 14 are used and are passed through corresponding openings 15 and 16 in the body and cover, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, said openings having enlarged ends in which the heads of the bolts and the nuts lie countersunk to prevent in.- terference with other objects when the boX is moved about.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation, and advantages of theinvention will be readily understood without a further extended description, and it will be seen that the invention provides a simple and effective device for the purpose stated.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

aving thus particularly described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a boX-bodyhaving corneropenings, a cover therefor having cornersockets, and standards insertible upwardly through said openings and into said sockets to support the cover above the box-body, the lower ends of said standards having rests to also hold the box-body at an elevation above the surface on which the standards rest, substantially as set forth.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a box-bod y having corneropenings, a cover therefor, formed with corresponding sockets, and standards adapted to be inserted upward through said openings and to be fitted at their upper ends in said sockets to support the cover at an elevation above the boX-body,said standards being pro- When this has a cover therefor, formed with corresponding sockets, wear-plates reinforcing and closing the sockets at their inner ends, and stand ards adapted to be inserted upward through said openings, and brackets, and to be fitted at their upper ends in said sockets to support the cover at an elevation above the box-body,

said standards being provided at their lower ends with shoulders for the body to rest upon, substantially as specified.

4.. In a device of the character described, the combination of a box-body having cornersockets, a cover having corresponding sockets, removable standards adapted to be fitted in said sockets to support the cover at an elevation above the box-body, and apertured braces. on said box-body adapted to receive and support said standards, substantially in the manner set forth.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a box-body having cornersockets, standards adapted to be removably fitted at their lower ends in said sockets, and a reversible cover adapted to be removably supported upon said standards in a reversed position and having sockets to receive the upper ends of said standards, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a box-body provided with corner-sockets and bolt-openings,a removable reversible cover provided with corresponding sockets and bolt-openings, removable standards adapted to support the cover in reversed position above the box-body and to be fitted in said sockets, and bolts adapted to be passed through said bolt-openings tosecure thecover to close the box-body upon the removal of the standards, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereuntoset my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRED Ii. MITCHELL.

VVitn esses:

CHAS. MITCHELL, SAMUEL A. SWART. 

